MPs Probe Works Ministry Over Six-Year Delay, Cost Escalation on Busega–Mpigi Expressway

[Da Dona]

•Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure has intensified scrutiny of the delayed Busega–Mpigi Expressway, questioning why the multi-billion-shilling project remains less than half complete more than six years after construction began.
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The committee raised concerns that the project, financed through borrowed funds, continues to accumulate interest despite physical progress remaining below 50 percent. MPs said the prolonged delay raises serious questions about value for money and the management of one of Uganda's key infrastructure projects.

•Legislators also questioned the project's rising cost after learning that the original contract value of UGX 547 billion had reportedly increased to more than UGX 1 trillion following design changes. The committee demanded the supervising consultant's report and proof that the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) approved any contract variation exceeding the legal threshold of 15 per cent.
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•Another major concern was the gap between payments made and work completed. MPs heard that about 85 percent of the contract value had reportedly been paid while physical progress stood at only 47 percent, prompting demands for payment certificates and clarification on whether contractors had been paid for works yet to be executed.

The committee further questioned why the road alignment was shifted towards a swamp and why construction commenced before the final engineering designs were completed.

MPs argued that beginning works before completing critical studies such as geotechnical investigations and traffic assessments could have contributed to costly redesigns, delays and contract variations.

Conflicting completion dates also came under scrutiny after ministry officials reportedly cited both August 2026 and December 2028 as expected completion timelines. The committee directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to present a fully funded recovery plan and submit monthly physical and financial progress reports until the project is completed.

The legislators also sought explanations over the procurement process, including why the contract was signed by the Acting Director of Legal Services instead of the substantive office holder.

Meanwhile, the committee's scrutiny comes amid a wider government crackdown on accountability in the roads sector. During an earlier meeting, Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama informed MPs that President Yoweri Museveni had ordered the dismissal of six Ministry of Works engineers over alleged irregularities in road projects, including the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, Mityana Road and Fort Portal Road. The directive forms part of ongoing efforts to address corruption and improve accountability in the implementation of public infrastructure projects.
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